"What the Redskins are all about is the tradition of the Redskins, fighting for old D.C., fighting for victory, the terminology 'redskin' is not meant to be offensive whatsoever, and to compare that is silly."

However, the occasional appearance of a "redskin," or a minstrel Uncle Sam with blacked face and long, nappy, fake dreds pouring out of his stovepipe hat complicated that claim, as did portraits of Obama in whiteface with large, red lips.